1947 in Australia

Incumbents

• Monarch – George VI
• Governor-General – Prince Henry, Duke of Gloucester (until 11 March), then William McKell
• Prime Minister – Ben Chifley
• Chief Justice – Sir John Latham

State Premiers

• Premier of New South Wales – William McKell (until 6 February), then James McGirr
• Premier of Queensland – Ned Hanlon
• Premier of South Australia – Thomas Playford IV
• Premier of Tasmania – Robert Cosgrove (until 18 December), then Edward Brooker
• Premier of Victoria – John Cain (until 20 November), then Thomas Hollway
• Premier of Western Australia – Frank Wise (until 1 April), then Ross McLarty

State Governors

• Governor of New South Wales – Sir John Northcott
• Governor of Queensland – Sir John Lavarack
• Governor of South Australia – Sir Charles Norrie
• Governor of Tasmania – Sir Hugh Binney
• Governor of Victoria – Sir Winston Dugan
• Governor of Western Australia – none appointed

Events

• 1 January – A massive hailstorm strikes Sydney, causing hundreds of injuries and an estimated £1 million damage.
• 6 February – William McKell stands down as Premier of New South Wales following royal approval of his appointment as Governor-General. The Labor Party elects James McGirr as its leader and the new Premier.
• 15 March – A state election is held in Western Australia. The Labor government of Frank Wise is defeated by the Liberal/Country coalition led by Ross McLarty.
• 3 May – A state election is held in Queensland. Ned Hanlon's Labor government is returned for its sixth term in government.
• 1 April – The Woomera rocket range is established in South Australia as a testing site for British and Australian missiles.
• 5 May – A train derails in the Camp Mountain rail accident in Queensland, killing 16 people.
• 15–17 June – Major flooding in Tasmania.
• 30 June – The Australian government assumes control of Qantas.
• 1 July – Real estate company L. J. Hooker is listed on the Australian Stock Exchange.
• 5 August – Australia becomes a member of the International Monetary Fund.
• 30 August – The Commonwealth Court of Conciliation and Arbitration grants workers a 40-hour week.
• 8 November – A state election is held in Victoria, after the upper house blocks supply. The Labor minority government of John Cain is defeated by a Liberal–Country coalition led by Thomas Hollway.
• 18 November – Australia reduces its trade tariffs after ratifying the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade (GATT) in Geneva.
• 18 December – Robert Cosgrove resigns as Premier of Tasmania after being indicted on charges of bribery and corruption. Edward Brooker is sworn in as his replacement the next day.
• 26 December – Heard Island and McDonald Islands in Antarctica are transferred from British control to Australian territories.

Arts and literature

Main article: 1947 in Australian literature

• 17 January – William Dargie wins the Archibald Prize with his portrait of Marcus Clarke.

Sport

• 30 August – Fred Fanning, in his last league match, kicks a VFL/AFL record of eighteen goals against St. Kilda
• 20 September – Balmain win the 1947 NSWRFL season, claiming their tenth title after defeating minor premiers Canterbury-Bankstown 13–9. The newly formed Parramatta team finish in last place, claiming the wooden spoon.
• 27 September – Carlton 13.8 (86) defeats Essendon 11.19 85 to win the 51st VFL Premiership in the 1947 VFL Grand Final.
• 4 November – Hiraji wins the Melbourne Cup.
• 30 December – Morna takes line honours and Westward wins on handicap in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
• The Parramatta rugby league club is formed in Sydney's West. The Manly-Warringah club is also formed in the Northern Beaches.

Births

• 10 January
  • David Irvine, diplomat, Director-General of ASIS and ASIO (died 2022)
  • Stevie Wright, English-Australian singer-songwriter (died 2015)
• 29 January – Lorraine Landon, basketball administrator, former player and coach
• 8 February – Kerrie Biddell, singer and pianist (died 2014)
• 8 April – Fay Miller, politician (died 2023)
• 15 May – Graeham Goble, musician
• 19 May – David Helfgott, concert pianist
• 29 May – Stan Zemanek, Australian radio broadcaster (died 2007)
• 3 June – Mike Burgmann, racing driver and accountant (died 1986)
• 19 June – James Mason, field hockey player
• 23 June – Bryan Brown, actor
• 25 June – Robert Percy, Australian rules footballer
• 14 July – John Blackman, radio and television presenter (died 2024)
• 16 July – Don Burke, Television presenter, television producer, author, and horticulturist
• 28 July – Peter Cosgrove, Chief of the Defence Force (2002–05)
• 5 August – Angry Anderson, singer and actor
• 28 August – Jennie George, politician and trade unionist
• 5 September – Bruce Yardley, Test cricketer (died 2019)
• 25 September – Barrie Robran, Australian rules footballer (died 2025)
• 28 September – Bob Carr, Premier of New South Wales (1995–2005); Senator and Minister for Foreign Affairs (2012–13)
• 2 November – David Ahern, composer (died 1988)
• 4 November – Rod Marsh, cricketer (died 2022)
• 28 December
  • Dick Diamonde, bass guitarist (died 2024)
  • Andrew Olle, television and radio broadcaster (died 1995)

Deaths

• 16 January – Traugott Bernhard Zwar, academic, army medical officer and surgeon (b. 1876)
• 27 February – Charles Hoadley, geologist (b. 1887)
• 26 April – Hector Lamond, New South Wales politician (b. 1865)
• 27 April
  • Robert Barr, Victorian politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1862)
  • Roland Green, New South Wales politician (b. 1885)
• 9 May – Hugh de Largie, Western Australian politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1859)
• 16 May – William McCormack, 22nd Premier of Queensland (b. 1879)
• 25 May – Rupert Bunny, painter (b. 1864)
• 28 May – Walter Duncan, New South Wales politician (b. 1883)
• 1 July – E. Harold Davies, musician, conductor and teacher (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1867)
• 30 July – Sir Joseph Cook, 6th Prime Minister of Australia (b. 1860)
• 28 August – Matthew Reid, Queensland politician (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1856)
• 14 September – John Feetham, Anglican bishop (born in the United Kingdom) (b. 1873)
• 26 October – Jack Bailey, New South Wales politician (b. 1871)
• 19 December – Arthur Wilson, Australian rules footballer, gynaecologist and obstetrician (b. 1888)

References

References

1. (4 January 1947). "Sydney's Hail Storm.". National Library of Australia.
2. (6 February 1947). "MR. J. McGIRR NEW PREMIER.". National Library of Australia.
3. (1 April 1947). "Mr. Wise Resigns.". National Library of Australia.
4. (3 May 1947). "LOSS OF 2 SEATS IN Q' LAND.". National Library of Australia.
5. (3 July 1947). "QANTAS AIRWAYS TAKEN OVER.". National Library of Australia.
6. (2 October 1947). "SUPPLY REFUSED TO VICTORIAN GOVERNMENT.". National Library of Australia.
7. (9 November 1947). "'I HAVE BEEN DEFEATED'—CAIN LABOR LANDSLIDE IN VICTORIAN ELECTION.". National Library of Australia.
8. (19 December 1947). "DEVELOPMENTS IN TASMANIAN POLITICS.". National Library of Australia.
9. (18 January 1947). "ARCHIBALD PRIZE TO VICTORIA.". National Library of Australia.
10. [http://afltables.com/afl/stats/alltime/misc_goals.html "Most Goals in a Game"]
11. (6 November 1947). "HIRAJI WINS MELBOURNE CUP.". National Library of Australia.
12. (31 December 1947). "MORNA YACHT VICTORY.". National Library of Australia.
13. "Lorraine Landon OAM: Admin – Basketball". Sports Australia Hall of Fame.
14. (16 July 2025). "Radio host rushes off air after death of iconic family member".